![\"Gordon](\"https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/480\/cpsprodpb\/5b61\/live\/d60db690-de69-11ef-abd8-7323bf03ee98.jpg.webp\")
Gordon Currie<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\nA serial criminal has been found guilty of murdering a taxi driver in an unprovoked attack after he failed to give him a cigarette.<\/p>\n Steven Greig was already in prison for seriously assaulting Mark Ward, 55, by pushing him down a hill in Dundee on 6 April 2022.<\/p>\n But he was re-prosecuted for murder after Mr Ward – who was so severely injured he required round-the-clock care – died a day before the first anniversary of the attack.<\/p>\n Greig, 47, who has 189 previous convictions, will be sentenced in March.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n The High Court in Dundee heard the killer walked away from the scene in the city’s Coupar Angus Road “unbothered” after leaving his victim lying in a pool of blood.<\/p>\n Advocate depute Mark Mohammed KC told the jury a 999 call was made and paramedics found Mr Ward with a significant injury to his eye and back of his head.<\/p>\n He said the victim appeared to have suffered substantial blood loss.<\/p>\n Mr Ward was taken to the city’s Ninewells Hospital where he had surgery for life-threatening head injuries.<\/p>\n Mr Mohammed added: “He remained dependent upon 24-hour nursing care. <\/p>\n “He would make spontaneous sounds and occasional words, but could not engage in conversation.”<\/p>\n The court was told Mr Greig was unable to walk, talk or care for himself.”<\/p>\n Six months after the incident Mr Greig was moved to the brain injury centre at the Royal Victoria Hospital in Dundee.<\/p>\n He became visibly unwell and was struggling to breath and died on 5 April 2023.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n The court heard that on the night of the murder student Lewis Webster was passing on a bus when he saw two men talking at the top of a hill.<\/p>\n He watched as Mr Greig was pushed backwards down an embankment and hit his head on the road.<\/p>\n Mr Webster, 22, said: “It wasn’t just messing around – it was a proper push. <\/p>\n “The one who hit his head was lying on the road. The guy who pushed him didn’t stop to hang around.”<\/p>\n Mr Webster recalled blood had pooled around Mr Greig’s neck and one of his legs began to shake.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Greig, from Dundee, denied struggling with the taxi driver, pushing him and repeatedly kicking or stamping on Mr Ward’s head.<\/p>\n He denied murdering Mr Ward and causing him to die from his injuries.<\/p>\n Previously, in January 2023, Greig had been jailed for five years and four months for the attack.<\/p>\n Then he admitted assaulting Mr Ward to his severe injury, permanent disfigurement, permanent impairment and danger of his life.<\/p>\n But following his death three months later the Crown raised the murder charge.<\/p>\n Lady Drummond deferred sentence until March.<\/p>\n Greig’s multiple previous convictions included dishonesty, knife possession, drugs and road traffic offences.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n![](\"https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/bbcx\/grey-placeholder.png\")
![\"Police](\"https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/480\/cpsprodpb\/a4b0\/live\/125c9c10-de6f-11ef-a103-5df090d22fd4.jpg.webp\")
Police Scotland<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n![\"Exterior](\"https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/480\/cpsprodpb\/de56\/live\/bca4b8f0-de70-11ef-a819-277e390a7a08.jpg.webp\")
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n